5 Types Of Soil Testing Required For Construction Projects

The first stage of construction planning is to conduct soil tests to determine whether the soil is adequate for bearing the load of your building or nor. Without soil testing, the building will be subject to unidentified risks that could have catastrophic consequences. Soil testing evaluates several criteria to determine if a plot of land is suitable for construction. Certain approaches investigate the composition and texture of the soil to determine its structural stability.

We Will Go Through The Types Of Soil Testing For Construction

Types Of Soil Test 

Many soil tests are performed to determine soil quality for building construction. Some Soil testing for construction is performed in a laboratory, while others are performed in the field. The following are some of the common soil tests performed before building construction.

Moisture Content Test 

Moisture Content Test is an essential test in Soil testing for construction. Various techniques are used to determine the moisture content of the soil, including oven drying, calcium carbide, torsion balance, pycnometer, sand bath, and radiation. The most frequently used method entails weighing the sample soil, drying it in an oven set to 110 degrees Celsius (+/- 5 degrees), and then weighing it again. The water or moisture content is determined using the weight difference between the initial and final weights. 

Dry Density Test

The dry soil density is defined as the mass of soil particles inside a specified sample volume. Specific gravity and Void Ratio are two factors that influence dry soil density. This Soil testing for construction helps classify the soil as dense, medium dense, or loose. Sand replacement, core cutter, or water displacement are the methods used in the dry density test. Based on this test, you need to decide the tools that is needed for your construction project.

Specific Gravity Test

Gravity tests are essential to assess soil properties such as void ratio and saturation level. For soils and other building materials, specific gravity is needed. Numerous techniques are used to calculate it, including the density bottle method, the pycnometer method, the gas jar method, the shrinkage limit method, and the measuring flask method. It can be used to calculate the saturation of the soil as well as the weight of moist soil per unit. The optimal soil-specific gravity range for the building is between 2.62 and 2.85.  

Atterberg Limit Test

The Soil testing for construction involves the Atterberg Limit Test, in which fine-grained soil is used in the testing component, which can determine whether any substantial water-related components are present.  

The Atterberg Soil Limits Test is conducted at three limits: liquid, plastic, and shrinkage. 

Liquid limit Test

Casagrande's liquid limit device consists of a cup with a sliding up and down mechanism used in a liquid limit test to assess the soil's liquid limit. 

Plastic Limit Test

The amount of moisture in the soil that causes it to crumble when rolled into threads of a given size is known as the plastic limit of soil. The value of the plastic limit is used to classify fine-grained soils and gauge clayey soil's capabilities. 

Shrinkage Limit Test 

The shrinkage Limit Test is the procedure for defining the properties of cohesive soils. The shrinkage limit of cohesive soils is the moisture content below which subsequent moisture loss does not result in a drop in volume. The amount of water needed to barely cover the soil's gaps are calculated using a mathematical calculation in a shrinkage limit test. 

Proctor Compaction Test 

The proctor compaction test analyses the compaction characteristics of diverse soils with varied moisture concentrations. The Proctor compaction test is a crucial component of soil testing for construction. The compaction test outcomes reveal the soil's maximum dry density and appropriate water content. 

Standard Proctor Tests and Modified Proctor Tests are the two types of proctor tests. The soil sample is processed using various techniques, including mixing, moulding, soaking, and ramming. The procedure's output can be measured and tested to produce different results. 

The Bottom Line

All building tasks are carried out on the soil. The soil's capacity must accommodate the construction's weight. Several tests are performed to ascertain important soil information, such as moisture content, dry density, Atterberg limits, and compaction. Soil testing for construction can provide information about the carrying capacity, density, compaction, organic matter, sand, and pollutants in the soil. As a result, soil testing is extremely necessary before beginning any construction project.